–into dense Region Seven jungle
IVOR Williams, Troy Daniels, Leon Bristol and pilot Bernard Singh survived the horrific experience of travelling in an aircraft that literally fell out of the sky over the dense jungle of Region Seven. They were the only occupants of the aircraft at time of the mishap.

At just after 11:00 hours yesterday, shortly after the single-engine light aircraft took off from the Arau Airstrip in Region Seven under the control of Singh, owner of the aircraft as well as several mining camps in Guyana’s interior, the plane fell out of the sky; but the pilot was able to send a distress call to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) via satellite phone, and that entity activated its search-and-rescue coordination centre.

Because the pilot was able to give his reading at the time, another privately-operated plane in the area was able to pinpoint the exact location the aircraft went down, and that information was passed on to the GCAA.

Moments later, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which is also part of the National Search and Rescue Coordination Unit, dispatched into the area a chopper with medical personnel to attend to the injured and to have them stabilized. The army personnel were accompanied by investigators from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

The downed aircraft, registration number N87619, was easily spotted, and getting to the injured was not much of a challenge, as compared to a more recent case when the rescue centre was activated.

Medical personnel related that, of the four occupants of the downed craft, all of whom sustained injuries, one appeared to be more critical than the others.

The men were brought out from the wreckage area to the airstrip from where their flight had originated. They were then transported to another airstrip, since that airstrip could accommodate only small planes like their downed craft. The men were all flown to the city last evening, and were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.

with three of his employees on board.

Speaking with this publication at the Georgetown Public Hospital last evening, one of the injured, explained that he could not really recall what had transpired, but he explained that he worked in the area as a miner with the pilot of the plane. At time of the accident, Bernard Singh was heading to one of his mining camps with three of his employees on board the craft.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the Guyana Defence Force chopper that travelled to the area was unable to return to the city because it had to be refuelled. It should be out of the area today.
The investigators from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority will, however, remain in the area as they conduct their investigations, which are expected to commence today.
By Leroy Smith